Monday, May 29, 2017

Loony-Toony Seattle

If you’ve followed this blog, you’ve seen hints I live in
the Seattle area. Every big city has its quirks, but Seattle is known to be way
out there.

For instance, residents are required to have garbage
cans, recyclable cans, and compostable cans. So far, so good. But for a while, the city required garbage
collectors to snoop through the garbage cans to see if too much recyclable or compostable stuff was in there. Residents could be fined for that. Fortunately, a court
threw out the search part, but the ordinance is still in place.

So if you have a bunch of old pizza or newspapers, throw them in the garbage can of a neighbor you don’t like.

photo by Todd Huffman

What’s still current is that the Seattle police can no
longer refer to a person they arrest a “suspect.” They must use the term “community
member.” I’m not making this up.

I can imagine a reporter asking a woman, “Is it true you
shot the man accused of trying to rape you?”

“Yeah I shot right for the community member.”

(no picture)

And this one sounds really silly, but it turns out to be
sinister. Thousands of pet owners received letters from King County (which
contains Seattle) demanding they license their pet, or they would get a $250
fine. How did the county know they were pet owners? Well, you know those little
cards the grocery stores give you to scan at each purchase so you could possibly
get a discount? King County has access to those databases. If you buy some cat
food or kitty litter, guess what the government knows about you?

photo by irrational cat

Suppose you buy a large amount of medical supplies. Are you
eluding your duty to buy medical insurance from exchanges whose sites do not
keep your medical information secure? Or do you buy a huge amount of
non-perishable foods, matches, and camouflage gear? You might be a survivalist type,
and if some criminal survivalist goes on the lam, maybe the police should see
whether you’re harboring that fugitive.